Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Tonight’s mission in the Johannesburg suburbs started with a gardener’s close call. While trimming foliage on a roof, he accidentally disturbed a hidden colony of African honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata). After a daytime inspection proved they were in high-defense mode, we returned under the cover of night to perform a moonlit relocation.

Chimney removals are often “vertical nightmares,” but this one came with a glorious twist that made our night.

The Inspection: Prime Real Estate

Chimneys are warm, vertical caverns that bees find irresistible. Usually, this means a deep descent into the shaft, but as we opened the top, we found the colony hadn’t headed into the abyss.

• The “Starter” Surprise: The bees had tucked themselves snugly just under the tiles covering the chimney cavity. Instead of a three-course struggle, we only had to deal with the “starters.”
• The Abyss Risk: Despite the lucky placement, the danger was real. One wrong move could send the entire nest and thousands of bees plummeting 12 feet down the chimney, blocking the flue with molten wax and making the bees impossible to retrieve.

The “Santa” Strategy: The Box Method

To avoid dangling headfirst like a confused Santa Claus, we hatched a plan using a simple cardboard box and some creative folding.

• The Plan: We decided to slide a cardboard box directly under the nest while it was still attached to the tiles. By lifting the tiles and the box together, we could “trap” the entire colony inside without having to cut the comb away while balanced on a steep roof.
• The Tight Squeeze: The challenge was the narrow opening. We had to fold the box, thread it through a small gap past a pipe, and then unfold it once it was inside the cavity to cradle the nest.

Technical Maneuvers on the Roof

Working on a steep roof at night requires a steady hand and a calm partner.

• Pheromone Control: We noticed the bees weren’t on the outside of the cluster; they had all moved into the middle of the nest for the night. This made it much easier to “scoop” them into the box without a massive aerial counterattack.
• The “Piping” Queen: As we moved the nest, we could hear the distinct “piping” sound of the Queen. It’s a beautiful, high-pitched signal that usually means she is communicating with the colony—a great sign that she was safe and central in the nest we were moving.
• Nature’s Guest: We even found a Death’s Head Hawk Moth near the hive—a common “honey pirate” in South Africa that often tries to sneak into hives undetected.

Gravity and the Hand-Off

The final hurdle was getting the box from the steep chimney cap down to the ground.

• The No-Strap Choice: We decided against using straps to secure the box, fearing they would squash the delicate comb and the bees inside.
• The Relay: It was a high-stakes hand-off. I held the weight of the box to prevent it from crushing against the chimney edge while passing it to my partner on the ladder. It was “all hands on deck” to ensure a smooth descent.

The Verdict: A Successful Descent

This removal was a testament to the power of a good plan and a bit of caffeine. By using the box method, we kept the nest 100% intact, avoided any “plummeting” disasters, and ensured the chimney remained clear for the homeowner. The colony is now safely at the apiary, where they can continue their work in a much more accessible location.

Want to see how we re-mount this chimney comb into permanent frames?

Check out our Rooftop Rescue Playlist for the full technical breakdown. Don’t forget to Subscribe and hit the Like button to support our mission of saving pollinators!